BOULDER FIELDS – “MEASURES”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
Scotland has certainly been a hotbed of fabulous music over the years, producing such greats as Simple Minds, Garbage, Big Country, Cocteau Twins, Belle and Sebastian, CHVRCHES, Trashcan Sinatras and even Bay City Rollers. On the other end of the spectrum, Caledonia has spawned the grounding folk-rock excellence of The Waterboys, Amy MacDonald, The Proclaimers and Runrig β not an exhaustive list, of course.
Today we are pleased to introduce yet another Scottish troubadour, who goes by the name Boulder Fields, otherwise known as Edinburgh-based singer-songwriterΒ Cam Fraser.
UK residents who have been around a while may know Fraser from two of his previous bands β Borrowed BooksΒ and 80s punk legendsΒ The Cateran, whose claim to fame is that they teamed up withΒ NirvanaΒ to play out their infamous 1989 UK tour, which brought the band to greater fame. They also shared the bill with like-minded artists of the day, such asΒ The Proclaimers,Β TadΒ andΒ Grant Hart (Husker Du),
With his debut albumΒ With All The Other Ghosts coming out this summer through Scottish indie imprintΒ Let There Be Numbers, itβs time to present you the lead track βΒ “Measures”. Danceable and infectious with a feel-good vibe. A catchy melody, constructed at the crossroads of folk, rock and pop, this is an earworm to leave you grinning as you grab a pint or the hand of your partner for a hearty dance.
Offering a new take on the βhalf full vs half emptyβ question, Fraser sings βWe measure the distance, we measure how far still to goβ¦β
FraserΒ tells us about this first single:
“Is it too simplistic to say that sometimes itβs hard to keep going? Then sometimes, at least for some, it just gets too hard. Resilience is all very well, but the unexpected shitstorm can overwhelm even the strongest, and then itβs all too easy to sink below. Β Boulder Fields had already played a few shows prior to heading into the studio. There was something magical happening with just these acoustic instruments and the vocals, and it felt like this was what we should try to capture on the album. Listening to it now, I think thatβs pretty much what we pulled off. It sounds just like when we play together; nothing fake or contrived or prettied up with technologyβ¦ just us. Iβm proud of this collection of songs and Iβm proud of how we play them together.β
OnΒ With All The Other Ghosts, Cam forms the core three-piece with long-time collaboratorΒ Aly BarrΒ (bass, vocals) and the talentedΒ Suzy CargillΒ (drums, vocals). Since their debut performance as a collective at 2022’s Belladrum Festival, they have played several very well-received shows around Edinburgh, including some also with an extended line-up.
This album also featuresΒ Jamie Watson, a hugely respected figure in the Scottish music scene. Perhaps best known as a producer for the likes ofΒ Snow PatrolΒ andΒ The Vaselines, or former owner ofΒ Chamber Studio, Watson was also a member of such influential Scottish bands asΒ The Monos, The SolosΒ andΒ The Persian Rugs. Jamie and Cam first worked together back in the 1980s, when Camβs band rehearsed and recorded at Jamieβs studio. On acoustic guitar for several tracks, he contributes some impressive finger-style guitar, in addition to tapping his vast experience in helping create the final mix.
Fraser adds, “The album owes a lot to the very lovely guy who sat behind the mixing desk, Richie Werner at B&B Studios. As well as fretting about all the technical stuff and making sure he got the best possible sound out of all the instruments, Richie also fired up his studioβs old Hammond organ and played on a couple of songs.”
“Measures” will be available from fine digital outlets, including Apple MusicΒ andΒ Bandcamp. The ‘All the Other Ghosts’ album β out on June 14 β is alreadyΒ available for pre-order.
ALBUM CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by James Andrew Cameron Fraser (PRS / BMI)
Cam Fraser – vocals, acoustic guitar
Aly Barr – acoustic bass, vocals, piano
Suzy Cargill – drums, percussion, mandolin, vocals
Richie Werner – organ
Jamie Watson – Β acoustic guitar, mixing support
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Richie Werner at B&B Studios
Album cover design & artwork by Cam Fraser
Front cover photography by John MacPherson
Catalogue No: LTBNLP703
Video by Cam Fraser
While you are here, also enjoy this stunning performance of “Canβt Even Say” and his latest Falkirk Attic EP:
Boulder Fields
[Single]
(Let There Be Numbers)
Release Date: April 16, 2024
ArtistΒ Links
Background Photo Credit: Deborah Mullens | Album Cover Design & Artwork: Cam Fraser
